time was rolling in money. it took six months of the bush administration to run us into a debt we never recovered again. >> what are you going to do with that townhouse? >> i'm going to see if i can get them to pay the rent they owe me. [laughter] >> george miller, leaving congress at the end of this year after 40 years. thank you. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2014] >> for free transcripts or to give us your comments about this program, visit us at q&a.org. programs are also available at c-span podcasts. iinext, queen elizabeth

delivering her speech at the british parliament. that, the u.s. and european response to russian intervention and ukraine. then a discretion about the future of the european economy. >> now if you wait until it shows up, the cheaper alternative, you have waited too long. it is better and less expensive. in the case of our navigation example, you have something like tomtom and garmin. they knew the smartphone was taking off. they understood it was possible could launch else a navigation app. but they said we don't see any threat yet. who will respond when it shows up. it did responded it took off. within months there were

millions of people who liked it, but it was better and cheaper. by then it was too late for them to respond. we think incumbent businesses need to start looking much earlier at the lifecycle of new technology and recognize that even before it is a product, there will be a lot of experiments going on. crowd funding platforms allow you to see how people are playing with new technologies. we say that is the moment when you should get worried. >> how technology is changing the way companies do business monday on "the communicators" at 8 p.m. -- at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span two. on wednesday, queen elizabeth the second traveled from buckingham palace to parliament for the state opening of the parliament. she delivered a speech written by the government that outlines the priorities for the coming year. hugh edwards hosted the coverage.

this is an hour and 45 minutes. >> it is 10:30 in westminster. standby for a unique blend of pageantry and politics as we bring you full coverage of the state opening of parliament. it is the last queen speech before the general election.

>> good morning. not long to go before the queen arrives here in that traditional carriage procession the start of a new procession of parliament but the new we know is 11 months so there's hardly any time to start an ambitious new program of legislation. having said that there are some interesting and significant items in the list of bills we're expecting today and we will be talking about those in due course. we also put the thing in the wider political context following the recent local and european elections which saw the rise raising new questions for other party leaders. plenty for david cameron about. he left number 10 about a half hour ago. it is of course the coalition's program of government being announced today. the other bit of the coalition as the deputy prime minister also left within the last 45 minutes or so on his way to the houses of parliament. no words from them yet but we have had some word from labe our's ed millband. >> we heard of the election the depth of discontent there is within way the country's run and

we need a queen's speech which rises to that challenge. so labor queen's speech will be making hard changes, freezing energy bills meeting the big challenges our country faces. >> just a flavor of the debate that we'll get on the queen's speech in a short while. so this is where the queen arrives just behind us here, 45 minutes time and when the queen arrives it will be in a brand new coach today. it is called the diamond jubilee state coach built in australia, completed in 2010, not delivered until march of this year. all the little plaques and names show you this is kind of a mobile showcase of british tradition and history going back nearly a thousand years. we'll have more to say about that later on. but continuing in that tradition talking about the pagentry today not just the politics in the house of lords. guests have already started to

arrive for the biggest event in the parliamentary calendar. no peer allowed unless he or she is wearing the appropriate parliamentary robe. some new faces today. we'll have a little look because we have barren es lawrence within the past year danny there the well-known column nist and journalist who took his seat in the last year. some people reminding us maybe of a different age. there we have lord how who is chancellor and next to him barren nest how. and maybe a little more recent but still feels like quite a long time ago now we have a former chancer lord lamont who served under john major barren es party there sitting next. all waiting to the queen's speech around 11:30. the speech to be delivered from this spectacular guilded throne in the house of lords. the queen's throne in the left, a smaller wunt on the righthand side.

later the queen will summon members of the house of commons to this chamber to the house of lords to listen to the speech and then of course unveiling the government's legislative program for the procession. plenty of color, ceremony, tradition. and the delivery of the monarch's speech traced back to the 16th century though this current ceremony is based from 1854 ampt the palace was rebuilt after the fire of 1834. power, plenty of display, plenty of politics to today to talk about. let me introduce my first guest the first lord speaker presiding officer of the house of lords created back in 2006. thank you very much for coming in. matthew is with us of the times. in the distant past conservative mp but talking today as commentator. and as always on these days my colleague the bbc's political editor.

just a thought here. lots of people thought we wouldn't get to this point. they didn't think we would last until the year 2014 but here we are. >> i sat in this chair in this sort of studio bubble here on the date after the general election before the coalition was formed it was being talked about people said we'll have an election in months whatever arrangement there is, whoever does the deal it won't last. i think i said i don't want to say i told you so but i think i said i thought it would and it has and it will and you're right. a lot of what this speech is about is david cameron and nick cleg saying we told you so. and for those who said we don't have anything to do just counting the days until the next general election we have meaty bills about reform of pensions. and not just the annuities part we heard from a few months ago budget but also this idea of dutch-style collected pensions. basically the message is we're busy, active, keeping going.

>> i'm just wondering, when you were in the position of lord speaker getting ready for these processions, nearly 2211 in the morning a few years ago what were you doing? >> getting dressed because getting dressed took some time with the amount of gear you had to wear. and what i found was that the rehearsal the night before wasn't like real life. because you could trick over or laugh or you didn't actually wear the robes and the robes are enormously heavy. and i was always just terrified of the steps that go down there, of tripping over and the whole of the household cavelry having to pick me up. and more commentating about it. >> we might could be -- >> we would have worried about you but -- >> well, i hope i put the

correct face on it. because one was very conscious of being part of something that had a long history. although i thought, i have to say that my policy was made up by the lord chamber two days before the opening because there had never been a lord speaker before and they had to deal with how this differentiated from the lord chancellor. >> we caught a glimpse there. of course he play as key role today. as we look at these images it's all about pagentry and tradition. is the politics being undersold because they're so close to an election? >> in a sense the politics is being oversold. there isn't much politics here except for the run-up to the general election there isn't going to be anything of any political or policy interest or nothing much in the queen's speech. we just have a very long run-up to a general election ahead of us. and this is all about positioning and jockeying and getting one over the other side. and so you'll see things put into the queen's speech that are basically just sort of one up on

you or one up on you, one up on you. the pagentry is all actually. we should just enjoy the pagentry. found difficulty getting here and ended up in a whole crowd of beef eaters already to do what beef eaters do. one of the more surreal experiences of my life. >> we'll see them. thank you very much. [laughter] >> very briefly. what sometimes people look at though is this is part kind of office christmas party, part school pride day, part great tradition. people wait all year to bring their husband or their wife or their partner to celebrate their involvement in the houses of parliament. i've been for the past few days, the carpet repainting the walls. it's a big occasion. >> it's a good moment to get our bearings. the chamber is packed there now.

let's get our bearings within the palace. we understand what's happening when the queen arrives. she'll be entering in the sovereign's entrance. the tower which contains all the parliamentary archives, thankfully the rain is holding off because it looked grim this morning but is looking a little better in terms of the weather. from there her majesty will make her way up the stair case into the robing room itself. there's the stair case. very soon we'll see members of the house of cavelry forming a guard of honor there. and then as we come up the stair caste the gentlemen is armed ready to take their place. the doors behind is where the robing room is. that is where the queen will dress in those parliamentary robes and where the imperial state crown before the procession in state. because once they're in the robing room there will be a few minutes to get ready. and then they will emerge in this magnificent room, the royal gallery.

so accompanied by the duke of edinborough, they will go past all these guests drawn from diplomatic and military circle, and then they will head along this gallery to the chamber of the house of lords but they'll lead past the rooms we'll see in the distance there. that is the princess chamber. that is exactly above the place where put in november of 1605. so they go through and then into the splendid chamber of the house of lords. the creation of course back in 1847. that is where the queen will take her place on the throne. she will give her signal to summon the house of comeance to signal the speech. and exactly halfway between the lords and the commons is the central lobby. that's the heart of the building. and my colleague is there. >> that's right.

the queen of course center stage over in the house of lords. but theer through the commons chamber is where mps assert their authority. the first procession through here today will be the speaker of the commons announced along the way by policed officers. and then that cry of hats off strangers telling members of the public here to stop df their hats in deference. and then the ancient procession, the man known as blacklords who will go straight up to the door of the commons chambers. it will be slammed in his face. he then has to knock three times with the ebony stick to be allowed to go in. and then he sumance mp's to go to the lords to hear the queen's speech. watch out for a couple rebellious members of the commons who always refuse to go. >> thank you very much. we'll be back in a short while talking about the tradition. black rods procession isn't the only tradition rooted in history. there's an interesting story, one member of the house of commons never gets to hear the

queen deliver the speech in a ceremony that dates back to the 300 years in the civil war when one becomes the queen's hostage and the mp jim fits patrick explains the history and list tons a few secrets of the time that he was detained at her majesty's pleasure. >> every time the sovereign comes to parliament to perform the state opening we have to send the hostage to buckingham palace just like today to ensure that the monarch is safely returned because if they don't go back, they have one of ours. with the tradition of the hostage comes from the execution of the monarch at the end of the civil war. and this depicts the staff of the civil war almost. this is the king arriving at parliament to arrest five mp's. he's been told they're undermanning his authority.

so the end of the civil war after the defeats of the royalists, charles was put on trial for treason. he was put on trial on this step in 1649. he was charged with treason found guilty and the next morning taken out and excuted in white hall. and as a result of that execution, the royal household demands a hostage every time the monarch comes to perform the state opening of parliament. and if anything happens to the monarch the same fate will befall one of our senior colleagues. we have driven by government car. we are outfitted with top hat, tails, and the striped trousers. when i was there he made it absolutely clear i could do whatever i wanted in bucking ham palace, i could have a gin and tonic or join him and his was to watch on bbc, which is what i did with him.

and we waited for her majesty's return. they don't actually lock me up. but they made it quite clear that i wasn't going anywhere. when i expressed my arninge site to the heads of the armed forces he reassured that if anything happened to her majesty we will make it quick and just shot you. i don't think he was kidding. one feels somewhat isolated because i'm detached from the main body of parliament. but you also feel that you're part of the history, part of the tradition which gives a sense of pride and sense of achievement. and i was quite happy to be there and quite happy to come back of course. but it was quite a member. -- a memorable experience. >> from that interesting bit of tradition to what's going on right now inside the palace of west mince ter because the dismounted detachment house of

cavelry who is involved life guards have already taken their place. they're lining the stair case forming a guard of honor to the queen. and there we have the guards one of the oldest of the royal body guards raised by henry 10th at the battle of bosworth. the oldest military court in existence in britain today. not the most senior. we'll see them later on. the guard ready to go in. they've already performed a ceremonial search of the cell lars. and that is of course linked to the dye forks incident so they formed a search of the palace a little earlier today and got a glass of port as a reward for doing that. so the ceremonial search has happened. they're now making their way into the royal gallery. they'll process through and line the gallery ready for the great procession in state which will come a little later on.

this for you now gives you a sense of the queen's route, if you would like, when turns up with the duke of edinborough they will be following these footsteps because they'll be leading from that stair case a little pause in the robing room and then along the royal gallery into the princess chamber i told you about a short while ago. baroness still with me watching these images and so far going to plan. and this is the nice thing about this event. it is routed in tradition and yet lots of these people have very real modern stories to tell. >> absolutely. and as i say, what is wonderful about it partly is the timing and the precision, and the way you feel that you're fitting into a very well-oiled machine. but also, actually, it's flexible and it does change. and when i was made lord speaker and the lord chancellor had

done that job before, the lord chancellor still had to be incorporated into the ceremony they had to find out something to do with me and the day was saved that the fact that it was a spare mace because each of us needed to have our own mace. but because there was a spare kept in the room next to my office it was ok. so they created a brit of ceremony -- bit of ceremony. and when you were commenting on it, because i saw it the next day on television, it looks like it has been going on for 100 years. and that's some of the real skill. the real skill of it. >> i'm going to stop you there for a second if i may. this is the last queen's speech before the next election. there is a very important electoral event happening before then of course. in september there will be the referendum on scottish independence and that's something too that is dominating minds here at westminster in the months to come. vicky young again in the central lobby there for us. >> we've had the evolution the

heart of the u.k. parliament from that vote coming in september could big changes be on the horizon. i'm joined by the fmp angus robinson. you can turn your back on all this. are you? >> i look forward to scotland's parliament being able to make all the big decisions rather than westminster when we look at all the mp's tripping through all the way from the house of commons to the house of lords. it reminds us that only 4% of the parliamentarians between these are actually elected in scotland it looks out of the 19th century rather than the 21 century. and i think the yes vote will give us the government and parliament we've wanted but something more befitting the century we're in rather than 100 or 200 years ago.

>> you think it's outdated? >> remember, this is constitutional monarchy. and the queen she hasn't abdicated herself but from a lot of the powers that previously the sovereign possessed. but the queen still has the power to appoint governments. and that's why she's come today at the request of the government to read out the government's program. and it seems to me still that these perhaps symbols are of enormous significance in underpinning the fact that we live in constitutional democracy in which powers are very clearly separated. and from my point of view much better that we should remain together because the stability which has been provided by this parliament for so many years is something which affect it is whole of the united kingdom. i don't want to give that up. >> and you clearly have the role which you have a role. >> of course she does. and she plays a role in the opening of the scottish parliament. but what we're looking at this year is a significant improvement to governance in

scotland. basic democratic point. today we are witnessing the opening of a parliament that governs over scotland governed by the third and fourth placed parties in scotland. that's not a normal democracy. the normal democracy the most popular party with the most votes makes the decisions. >> but westminster doesn't work like that. that's why we need to change it. it's out of date and today's a really good example. >> but see that ignores the reality because in scottland we have our own government. which is responsibility for the whole raft of affairs. our domestic affairs. which this parliament has devolved to scotland. so it's wrong to say the percentage of directly elected people having influence over scottish politics is only 4%. and of course the present government and indeed the labe your party, the conservative party and liberal democrats have also in the event of a no vote in september which i will argue as fervently as i possibly can then further deevelution of powers will be given. >> be will we hear those in the queen's speech?

>> you'll hear about it. >> then we cannot hold question of independence. >> thank you very much. so despite this day of ceremony, there are of course still arguments. >> thank you. outside the palace of westminster we have the queen alexander's state coach arrive because this is one of the first big moments of the ceremony today. it is bringing the imperial state crown. that we have it on display inside the carriage. closely guarded. as very senior figures will talk about in a short while. and we have the sword of state and the cap of maintenance, all of these powerful emblems of royal authority. and they will be carefully taken out. and a few maces as well. carefully taken out from the coach and taken in to the royal gallery and put on display until

the queen arrives because they're symbols of royal authority and power. so the coach. brought into the victoria tower. this is the sovereign's entrance one of the royal parts of the palace of westminster. and this is an interesting cast list as well. because we have people here representing those who used to rule the royal barges up and down the tames when they used the thames as the main mode of transport. the royal watermen, 24 of them still under the command of the queen's barge master who is standing there waiting to help bring out the imperial state crown. and there we have the crown jeweler. handing over to the barge

master. and this gentleman is the controller of the lord chamberlin's office. he's the constable for a lot of events and ceremonies and for organizing them is his duty to take this great symbol of the queen's authority, the imperial state crown. you only see it at coronations and the state of parliament to take this into the reg galia room and it will be placed on a much grander cushion and then taken up up the stair case and put on display. just behind you can see the sword of states. part of the re galia that is an integral part of today's ceremony. and we'll keep our eyes to this.

there it is. just on the left. the cap of maceman just a reminder of the gift that the pope used to make to those monarches that he favored. so they will be turning left here just for a few minutes to make sure that everything is polished and spick and span. before they have the formal procession of the stair case there. the household cavelry and the life guards on the right already in pollings as we know to provide that guard of honor when the queen arrives in i think 20 minutes time. so now that the crown is there being safely looked after let me introduce you to my new guest here.

recently become secretary of state for culture. glad to have you with us. liberal democrat whose the deputy leader of the house of commons and jack straw labor's former foreign secretary, former home secretary, former lord chancellor. i could go on is there anything in the state opening you haven't done? >> i've not been the queen. >> it's good to have you. >> thank you very much. >> what does today represent? >> today represents above all represent it is fact that we live in a constitutional monarchy and it took many centuries to get this balance of power established. but personally, i think that we do pretty well in terms of our constitutional arrangements. and of course it always needs to be improved. but the fact that we've had stability in this country, the fact since the civil war in the 17th century. we've not been through the

convullingses of every other european countries as well as across the world is based on this constitutional settlement was hacked out in the 17th century and then running through the 18th. >> we're talking about a settlement referred to sometimes as the crown in parliament. >> yes. >> and there we have the crown. that is the crown that represents the settlement if you'd like which is the queen in relationship to legislator and the fact that this is in many ways a pretty unique kind of carving up of the powers and responsibility. >> there are plenty of constitutional monarchies in europe and some elsewhere where i would say this but i think we've managed this really well. and as a result we've had this stability. and fs the crown in parliament. so actually parliament goes through both houses but they don't become law until they receive royal aconstituent still pronounced. or promulgated in ancient legal french. >> what's happening now is that andrew ford the controller is

handing over to this gentleman who is marcus chummably a very important figure. he is the lord ray chamberlin in charge of the royal part for the palace of westminster and he will be one of those greeting the queen when she arrives very shortly. it's on display in the royal gallery the crown. because it is there to demonstrate very publicly the queen's authority. the reason is that she's coming to parliament today to open parliament and to deliver that queen's speech. so the crown is on display. and if we also see what's happening next because we see that the cap of maintenance and the sword of states are also being placed on display. not quite as imimportant as the imperial state crown but they are also powerful and ancient symbols of the monarch's authority. so they will be put on display. and very shortly once we know that the queen and the duke of edinborough are safely on their

way from buckingham palace the crown will be moved into the robing room ready for the queen's arrival and that procession in state. so all of that is being done and waiting patiently to pick up again we have tom and sergeant with us. does this kind of ceremony really fit in in the 21st century britain? >> i agree 100% with what jack said about the constitutional importance of this. i came in parliament 2010 as the first opportunity i had to watch the queen's speech and be a participant in the commons up close. but even now, many years on, i still find it enormous source of pride about our country. i think of course there's politics today. i am sure we might get to that later but what's far more important today is this is a moment of national pride for us all. and you sort of put the politics aside for a while and reflect on what this actually means about our country and constitutional arrangements in government.

>> your perspective, tom. some of your colleagues in the past have said to me you know, we should move away from this kind of stuff in the 21st century. what is your take on this? >> i think we shouldn't forget that there is a practical side to this in terms of the queen's speech and the content which of course sets out what the government's program of action is. and it's an opportunity for the coalition of government to set out its program. but it's also an opportunity for the democrats within the coalition to highlight some areas which we think are a priority such as child care and pensions. >> in all of this debate today, because there will be of course debate on the speech itself later on, are we really in a position -- you were in government for many years. are we really in a position where we say that with 11 months to go anyone is pretending that you can introduce a substantial program of legislation with that kind of timetable or not sf -- or not? >> you can do it. i've been involved in doing it. i mean, this is quite a light legislative program compared

with previous ones and the government may want to make a marriage of that or it may be a consequence of coalition disagreement. one of the things i do however feel really strongly is an opportunity here which i think the government will take to ensure that the legislation that does come forward is better scrutinized on the floor of the house of commons. the criticism i have of my own administration we started this although i've always objected to it was to timetable bills too tightly. there's been a bit of lightning of this but there is going to be a lot of space available. with a would be damaging for the reputation of parliament is if the same tight timetabling takes place and then the rest of the time is frankly devoted to general debates which are inconsequential and which an engagement doesn't take place. >> i think what jack is right is scrutiny is absolutely important and is always right for any bill that comes before parliament you have enough time to scrutinize it that it's fully transparent and there's enough opportunity for giving for

that. where i will pick up on what jack said, i don't want to predict what her majesty will be saying shortly but i think you will find that there's more in the speech than there was in labe queen'sn labour's last speech. >> a quick word because i know that the queen is just leaving the pa lass. >> t people will find actually, that this is a program that is suitable for an 11-month session and that there is really, there is meat in it and i think perhaps the suggestion this is a parliament that has nothing to do i think will be proven wrong. >> so just a few seconds ago this is what was happening at buckingham palace. this is the brand new diamond jubilee state coach i was telling you about made in australia principally. we've been told that this is a much more sump tuss affair and in fact a much more interesting vehicle in many ways because it does contain all kinds of little samples if you'd like not just

in terms of timber and other things which represent lots of the iconic locations throughout the united kingdom, catsdzdrals, castles, royal residences, and all the rest of it. so that coach that we're going to see today, a lot more in the future, if you like is kind of a mobile museum of british tradition going back a thousand years. talking about that long tradition. we have the lord chamberlin now as i mentioned earlier taking the imperial state crown from the royal gallery into the robing room because of course they now know that the queen is on her way. and it's not a long run even in that great coach from bucking ham palace along the mile down to parliament square. so just a few minutes to go before her majesty arrives. and the crown being taken into the robing room for preparation. >> asked tom whether he was comfortable or the liberal

democrats are comfortable with the ceremony. we've just gone through a moment of rejection in the political class not by everybody but several not to vote or not to vote for any of these three guys' main party in the u.k. we heard we want to put all this behind us. i think it's what's interesting people don't seem to me to be rejecting this particularly. back in the mid 90s there were moves of new labor to say it's modernizing britain. does it mean putting this behind us and doing something rather different. but it seems to me the political rejection is more about what politicians do and say and how they behave rather than this. >> i don't know. let's have a look because i've just been told that the prince

of wales, princess of cornwall are just arriving. this is the irish state coach. just catching the strains of the national anthem. they are on duty at the entrance first battalion welsh guards providing a guard of honor for the queen and the duke who will be arriving soon. but here we have the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall. they attend it had state opening for the first time together last year. the prince actually hadn't attended the state opening i don't think since 1996 before last year though he had attended several before then. so this is the second time that they've attended as a couple. and they are now arriving at the sovereigns entrance in the victoria cart and what we will see a little later on is charles and camilla seated at the queen's side just on the righthand side of the main throne in the ceremonial chairs, the chairs of state which are being brought in for them.

so this is a relatively new development that we're seeing. these obviously are things that we deal with sensetively. the field marshall is in charge of the really big events of state, coronations, the funerals, really significant events. he is here today because really he is the organizing mastermind of the state opening. i've just mentioned the sensitivity around the understandable process of looking ahead and the fact that charles and camilla taking a more prominent role in events like this. >> not just in this but we remember that charles we want to the g-20 summit in slilanchingea -- sri lanka instead of her

majesty. so inevitably yes the palace are the first people to say we need to think ahead werks need to plan, we need to consider how her majesty will manage as she gets older. and we were hearing the other day of thing that is she no longer quite felt able to do in particular ceremony. but what always strikes people here is how well she seems to cope with an occasion like this. we all think of our own friends or relatives i'm not sure i would quite manage that at that age. >> well, charles is a youthful 65. so just going into the robing room there i mentioned earlier. and that's where of course they will wait for her majesty to arrive. just at this point before we get to the main event today, which is the delivery of the speech itself. a thought on how the speech is put together and a thought really about a kind of political tension that there might be. because you're two different parties, facing an electoral contest next may. can you tell us about the process of getting the queen's

speech together which isn't betraying too many secrets? >> i think you touched on it earlier in your program. is that there are many people that said back in 2010 that this coalition couldn't last it wouldn't work it's not the way politics is done in britain. i think what we've shown is that where we've had a common goal there is a lot wrong with our country at that time back in 2010. we had gone through the deepest recession in almost 100 years and that those challenges the country faced brought the coalition together and we focused resolutely on those areas, those parties. so that's bringing the deficit down, welfare reform as a whole host of other changes. but what you'll see from the speech today is that there's still a lot more to do. we've got a long-term plan for that. and it's something the coalition is still working very hard together on. >> i think what people perhaps don't realize is that of course what the queen's speech reflects is perhaps the competing demands of different ministers. so that they all want to get a

bill in that session. and of course the time is limited. particularly for this session as we know thithes a ten-month session so it's trying to balance the competing demands of ministers and to some exat the present time making sure that coalition partners are comfortable with the contents. and there are thing that is again without prejudging what's in it we've heard about things to do with child care and pensions which i mentioned which are strong things that liberal democrats want to see. equally there will be things in the queen's speech that reflect the conservative process. >> what's revealing is what's not in there. if this was purely the conservatives. there isn't because they probably have another bill on immigration. there isn't i suspend the liberal democrats wouldn't agree to that. there is all things they want want of the social progress which the tories aren't willing to back. so you want to look for what is there as well as what isn't there.

will there really be a promise of legislation to make all cigarettes sold in plain paper wrapping? i just got hauven they might say consultation ongoing may take a little while not ready to have any look quite yet. >> this is the lord speaker's procession. so we were talking to the barren esearlier who was the first lord speaker to be appointed so her successor. and the principle door keeper there carrying the maces. so they're making their way to the area there of the head of the stair case. and they'll congregate. there will be others congregating there very soon we'll see the lord chancellor. there's black rod who has such a big role to play later. there's the lord chamberlin. and we just caught a glimpse of the lord privy seal. but now we have the next procession. and this is the lord

chancellor's procession. this is the first nonlawyer to be lord chancellor for hundreds of years actually. and given that jack straw has done this and is sitting next to me. thoughts on this procession. >> well, the main thought is to make sure that you stick to the injunctions imposed on you by the lord great chamberlin and the marshall at the rehearsal and you literally do not put a foot wrong. it's a bit like juggling or riding a horse. you've just got to concentrate. and i was -- this bit is pretty straight forward but there are bits i worried about a lot like going up the stairs and going backwards down the stairs and remembering which door i should leave from the first time i did this i left from the wrong door and the duke of edinborough upgraded me from the way out. so there's a lot to worry about. and precisely that we're the first commoners to have ever done

this since thomas moore and we all know what happened to him. >> so these are the peers who will be in the procession carrying the sword of state. they will be responsible for professing with the cap of maintenance and the sword of state. so all of these principal players now getting into place. and we've seen the lord chancellor and the purse bearer because the purse that we saw actually contains the speech itself. it would be rather difficult if the purse was empty. >> you have a spare copy in your pocket. >> is that right? >> well, what a great sight coming along past parliament square is the new diamond jubilee state coach in public for the first

time. and four divisions of the sovereign's escort led by the blues and royals third and fourth division, the lifeguard in their so longid tunics. and there you have a sense of the intcrat work. no wonder it took eight years to build. ♪ the welsh guard directed by

major ketch roberts and the major henry usher. there we have a good view of the george iv dieden. the coronation of george iv back in 1820. that is the dieden that the queen wore on the way to the coronation back in 1953. so what's going to happen next is that the queen is just passing behind us a great view we have here actually there we are. it's a great view. just see the roof of the coach that goes into the palace. there will be a fan fair to signal the queen's arrival and the royal standard will be unfurled. replacing the union flag.

♪ ♪ ♪ fanfare sounded by the state trumpeters. the queen and the duke of edinborough arrive for the state opening of parliament. proceeded on the second by the herald who in the past were all messengers these days are in charge of all the rules and

customs of the college of arms. and the senior herald thomas woodcock among them just following the black rods david leaky who is preparing for his starring role in the state opening when he goes and sumance the commons a little later on when the queen gets up. there is tom woodcock the senior herald andrew landsly there with the baroness. the duke of for foke on the left. his white wand of authority of office because he's in charge of this royal part of the palace of westminster and the queen attending remarkable to say her 61st state opening of parliament. celebrating her 88th birth day this year. the duke next week will

celebrate his 93rd birthday. so making their way into the robing room. the george iv diadem will be replaced with the imperial state flag. and the royal gallery, the heralds getting ready to lead this procession in state. the state procession which is only seen at the state opening of parliament and at the coronation. so it's a rare event. and it's a special event. black rod david leaky ready to make his way down towards the central lobby. he will wait there for the signal from the house of lords because that will be his signal to make his way down to the

house of commons. and to summon the mp's. so let's join vicky again because she may catch sight of black rod in a second. >> that's right. we're waiting for the speaker's procession to be the first procession to come through here. just over my shoulder there you can see the inspector who is preparing for hats off strangers which he shouts as the speaker comes through telling the public to take their hats off in deference to the speaker. he has a missive to me to a little bit of nerves and has a dual role and then he will accompany black rod through here up to the doors of the chamber of the house of commons will black rod will have that door slammed in his face. >> all of that drama to come. because of course it's a very, very powerful symbol of the supremacy and power of the house of commons. that's what it's about. there's lots of drama and we can enjoy that but it signifies

something very important. so when the police inspector and -- gives that warning, hats off strangers, we'll know the speaker is on the way and we'll know too we're not far off then the moment when the queen will emerge in the royal gallery itself. and really, i suppose i would ask you this point give than you've been there and done it several times. at this moment once the queen's in the palace, there's very little you can do. it's all set in stone. >> it's completely set in stone. but going back to the discussion we had earlier. this is not just pant mime. there's a real importance in the fact that black rod is sent by the queen to summon her parliament, her house of commons. but the door is slammed shut. and that goes back to the extraordinary divisions that blew up during the civil war, the fact that charles i sent soldiers into the house of commons to arrest five members of parliament and did arrest them.

and ever since then no sovereign's been allowed on to the floor of the house of commons. and we decide whether or not we're going to walk along and hear what the queen has to say. so it symbolizes this balance of power not only between parliament and the queen but crucially between the elected house of commons and the appointed house of lords. >> is that point always clear? do you think people understand the significance of that part of the ceremony which is something to do with the very important struggle that took place the fact that the house of commons [video clip] today has a very, very different purpose and status to the upper chamber? >> i don't think they always do and it's always worth explaining that again and again even though i know that just listening to jack explain it again it does just remind you of the importance of this. and it's not -- this isn't a pant mime or any way shape or form. this is about our history and our heritage. and this shows just the importance of this.

>> so waiting patiently in the house of lords. hundreds of peers right now. there we have michael grade, lord grade one of the great figures of broadcasting. see if we can just see a couple other familiar faces. there we have michael howard, the form cler servetive leader. -- former conservative leader. looking at his blackberry. >> maybe an iphone. >> he's got quite -- >> blackberry tweeter. >> actually very important whatever it is. >> and the members of the judiciary here of course. >> as jack was saying earlier representing the different parts of the constitutional settlement. and former minister there, former conservative. and then we've seen a couple other familiar faces too. and it's interesting when we see -- you were going to say? >> i was only going to pick up what jack straw was talking

about in terms of ceremony as well. the people who come here often don't know the history, you can't but be in this building over there and become embued with it the words of the speaker who defied the monarch. and that's why we have this ceremony. and basically said i know i'm the representative of the people. i'm not the representative of the monarch so to speak as he refused to cooperate with the arrest of these five members of parliament. and each of those symbols gradually members of parliament some like myself, none of this history. you learn it as you show people around. and very few people, even real critics about constitutional settlement end up thinking that dund matter. >> i suppose i'm more on the modernizer wing and hour i think this ceremony is one that's provides an historic cal explanation for what our parliament does and why it does it. i think it sets a framework for which then the business of the

house can then be performed in a much more efficient functional manner. so i think it works. >> let's have a look in central lobby because i am toll the speaker's procession is on the way. the police inspector ready to give the command for hats off strangers. and we'll see the procession itself the speaker with the sergeant at arms and he will be also accompanied by the chaplain. so what i expect is they've left his office, they'll come up along the library corridor and then they will turn left. turning left into the central lobby. >> it's right. >> depending which side you're coming from. >> he will be turning right. coming from the left. >> well. whichever way. he's going to turn right. >> we're told he's seconds away. so as soon as the procession emerges i think we're almost there actually.

>> speaker. >> hats off, strangers. >> led by the door keeper. and then the sergeant at arms. started off from the postal service bearing one of the ancient maces, again symbols of the authority of the commons. followed by mr. speaker. and the train bearer. and there we have the speaker secretary and speaker chaplain

in this procession. so they're making their way down into the members lobby of the house of commons. very different in sense and in style and in texture to the house of lords. and the speaker being acknowledged by fellow members of the house of commons. there will be a short session of prayer, the traditional start of the day in the house of commons which we won't be showing on camera but once the speaker is in and settled they will be waiting then to be summoned by black rod. the door shut. the mace will be placed near the dispatch boxes. signaling that the house is to be in session. and then we will be leaving the commons at that point. the prime minister there. ed millband, too.

the scene in the central lobby. so bells signaling that prayers are taking place in the chamber of the commons. let's have a look at the royal gallery because that will tell us something about what's going on there in terms of the timing. there you have the doors to the robing room. and they're all waiting for the signal on the lord chamberlin to come out and he will note that the queen is ready to process. all the heralds waiting patiently. gentlemen at arms. another group of royal body guards. they were raised by henry the viii.

and the state trumpet is ready to sound the fanfare. the lord great chamberlin has emerged ready to give the signal. ♪

♪ >> the procession of state is under way. the 61st state opening of parliament involving her madgety -- majesty the queen. the queen has given regular audience to 12 prime ministers. and celebrating 66 years of marriage to the duke of edinborough. the prince of wales, the duchess of cornwall taking their place in the procession. the heralds leading the way. the lord speaker. lord privvy seal.

lord chancellor. the old marshall. lord great chamberlin. and there we have lord hill. bearing the cap of maintenance and general the lord walker would be sword of state. her majesty and duke of edinborough. and then the pages of honor. making their way into the princess chamber which is dominated by a vast marble statue of queen victoria. there are portraits of other monarchs dotted around the chamber. that leads directly into this great chamber of the house of seen, a chamber which has so many changes over the past

century. the queen will take her place on the principle next to the duke of edinburgh. the two chairs of state. to the left, the prince of wales and the duchess of one wall. -- cornwall. the queen will give a signal. blackrock. >> my lords, please be seated.

>> the signal has been received. black rod in a determined way steps off. that is where members of the public can come in and meet members of parliament. you can become a member if you like. the approach has been announced their by one of the officers of the house. the doors to the house of commons will be slammed in his face. it is a demonstration of the independent of the authority. [knocks thrice] >> open the door.

>> he steps into the chamber of the commons. he delivers the queen's message. >> her majesty the queen commands this honorable house. attend her majesty immediately in the house of peers. >> [indiscernible] [laughter] >> there is a contributor. [inaudible]

the procession from the commons. they will walk along the corridor that leads to the house of lords. everyone is so cheerful and chatty. you wonder sometimes. >> they work quite hard, the leaders of rival parties. what will we talk about? we will be seen on camera. someone somewhere will try to live read what they are saying. try to lip read what they are saying.

finding a safe topic to talk about, these two probably get on it rather better then david cameron and gordon brown. they fell out over syria. david cameron is angry. they are finding the words to use and it is not always easy. >> we tell stories about british policy. there are some exciting moments. you should not get on with evil -- people on the other side less well then you get on with people on your own side. do not forget being in the cloud. once you get the opposition in front of you, you have the enemy behind. rivalries work the same way. >> i wonder whether perhaps the subject of ukip might be important. [laughter] is that something we could potentially discuss? >> or may well be. d-day was a very important moment.

>> i think it is important for the public to see that despite the fact they're going for this every wednesday for half an hour, they are normal human beings. there is common ground between them. >> they experience the same things. they experience some of the same challenges. we all have the same problems. that is how we interest more british citizens and policies. >> they are waiting for the signal from the lord chamberlain. the lord chancellor, you see him there, they are telling him to deliver the speech. it is done very carefully.

>> it is the last speech of the parliament. >> my lords and members of the house of commons, my government will continue to deliver on its long-term plan to build a stronger economy and a fairer society. to strengthen the economy and provide stability and security, my ministers will continue to reduce the deficit. we will help to ensure that interest rates remain low. an updated charter for budget responsibilities will be brought forward to ensure that future government spends taxpayer money responsibly.

my government will also continue to cut taxes in order to increase financial security. my ministers will implement measures to increase further personal allowance and freeze fuel duty. measures will be brought forward for a married couple's allowance. it will recognize marriage in the tax system. legislation will be introduced to help make the united kingdom the most attractive place to start, finance, and grow a business. the bill will support small businesses by cutting bureaucracy and enabling them to access finance. inflation will require ministers to report on the deregulation

targets for each parliament. the legislation will also reduce delays in employment tribunals. it will improve contracts are unpaid workers. it will establish a public register of company ownership. legislation will be introduced to provide for a new statutory code. legislation will impose higher penalties on employers who pay cash failed to pay the minimum wage. measures will limit excessive redundancy payments across the public sector. in respect of national insurance contributions, legislation will be brought forward to simplify the connection from the self-employed. my government will introduce a bill to foster investment and

infrastructure and reform planning laws for economic competitiveness. the bill will enhance the united kingdom's energy independence and 30 five broadening access to -- by opening up access to shale and geothermal sites. legislation will allow for the creation of a solution scheme to enable all new homes to be built to a zero carbon standard. it will guarantee long-term investment in the network. my government will continue to implement major reforms in the electricity market. we will reduce the use of plastic carrier bags to help protect the environment. a key priority for my ministers will be to continue to build an economy that rewards those who work hard. legislation will be brought forward to give those who have saved discretion over the use of

their retirement funds. my government pension reform will also allow for innovation in the private market. it will give greater control to employees. it will extend the games. and --schemes [indiscernible] the overall benefit will be capped so public expenditures controlled stop policies will be pursued so that people are helped from welfare to work. my government will increase supply and homeownership by reforming the planning system. it will enable new locally owned cities and support small housebuilding firms. legislation will be brought forward to sell high-value government loans.

it will encourage development and increase housing. my ministers will continue to promote the divide of homeownership. my government will continue to deliver the best schools and skills for young people. in england, my ministers will help schools to become academies. we will support more free schools to open. we will continue investment to deliver more school places. further reforms to g.i. just -- gcse's and a-levels will prepare school pupils for employment. my government will increase the number of apprenticeship pay to 2 million. my government will continue to work to build a fairer society. we will improve education and child health. my government will ensure that

all children receive a free school meals. free child care will be extended to more of the most disadvantaged two-year-old. a bill will be introduced to help working families with child care costs. the bill will be introduced to strengthen the past and prevent modern slavery and human trafficking. it will improve support were victims of such crimes. a bill will be brought forward to provide that when a person acts responsibly or for the benefit of others, this will be taken into account by the courts. legislation will be introduced to improve the complaint systems in the armed forces through the creation of an ombudsman.

a serious crime bill will be brought forward to tackle child neglect. it will disrupt organized crime and strengthen towers that deal the proceeds of crime. my government will continue its program of political reform. my ministries will introduce legislation. my government will continue to implement new mantle powers for the scottish parliament. it will make the case for scotland to remain part of the united kingdom. my ministers will continue with legislation that gives the national assembly and ministers

more power over taxation and investment. my government will continue to work with the administration in northern ireland to rebalance the economy and promote reconciliation and create a shared future. draft legislation will be published providing for direct elections to national park authorities in england. members of the house of commons and estimates for the public services will be made before you. my lords and members of the house of commons, the united kingdom will work for peace and security on the borders. we will work for stable relations between russia and ukraine based on respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity and international law. my government will host a summit in wales. it is a sign of our commitment to the alliance. my ministers will strive to improve the humanitarian situation in area. to reduce violence and encourage political settlement. we will work for a successful

transition in afghanistan and we will work towards a comprehensive nuclear agreement with iran all stop the united kingdom will leave efforts to prevent violence in conflict worldwide. my government will work to promote reform in the european union. including a stronger role for member states in national parliament. my ministers also champion efforts to secure a global agreement on climate change. prince philip and i will pay a state visit to france. we will attend events to mark the 70th anniversary of the

d-day landing. we look forward to welcoming his excellency the president of the republic of the poor on his state visit. other measures will be laid before you. my lords and members of the house of commons, i pray for the blessing of almighty god be upon your counsel. >> the speech is been delivered. the lord chancellor faces the speech back in the purse. the pages of honor step forward. the train, it weighs a lot.

the queen and the duke and knowledge the assembled peers. they leave the way through the prince's chamber. then they will leave the palace at westminster. the gentlemen at arms. they are guarding the prince's

chamber. the prime minister, along with the deputy prime minister, prepare to leave the chamber of the lord. the queen and the duke go back through the rail gallery. the reference in the queen's speech to the state visit to france. this is an incredibly busy week. there are several garden parties this week involving thousands of people at buckingham palace. and there is a three-day state visit to france. it involves a visit to paris to meet president francois hollande and into normandy for the special 70th anniversary commemorations. it is on friday. then there are more events in paris on saturday morning before they were turned to stop it is a -- they returned.

very busy week for them. the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall will also be in france for the d-day event. back into the robing room. during the second world war, it served as the chamber of the house of lords because the main building was very badly damaged and the house of commons was almost destroyed. they met in the robing room. the return to the house of commons. the secretary of the treasury. the speaker.

arms.nt at the gentlemen with the beard, i want to mention him before he disappears. it is to robert rogers. he is about to retire after 40 years of service in parliament. i just wanted a quick mention of sir robert and the work he has done. later on, we will join for a chat about him. the queen's speech. people were saying that it would be a little thin. as we went through it she was making a long list. not just of bills, but of aims and ambitions. >> be careful with that. i feel sorry for her majesty having to read out all this propaganda. it seems better that she should

read out what government will do instead of phrases like "long-term plan." all of that political guff that is put in her mouth. not just by this government. if you look at the to do list, because that is the queen's beach, what have we got? 11 new bills. that is not very many. it is the lowest number since before the last general election. there were 10 in that year. tom will say that there are six bills that are continuing to make their way through. they did not quite finish in the last session. that will keep people reasonably busy. before that, and let matthew parris was saying, where is the real me? where is the substance? very important things that people may care about. plastic bags and modern slavery.

those things that matter desperately. they did not say much about the arguments between them. the real meat in terms of the argument is probably, and what we may still talk about, is the reform. >> a dramatic change in the way people say -- >> unimportant treasury role before the job you are in now. let me remind you would be queen said about pensions. >> pension reform will allow for innovation in the private pensions market. it will give greater control to employees. it will extend the bond schemes. it will abolish the tax rate. >> a few elements there. really be pension reform. if someone is watching and does not know what it is about, what is it? >> there are two major things.

there are two pension bills. the first one refers to the announcement that was made at the time of the budget. it allows people at the point of retirement to use their pension funds as they wish. they will no longer be obligated to purchase on annuity. >> there is a risk to that? >> with any significant change, there is risk. no one is pretending that there are not. what this bill will do is a lot better than the current system. our view is simply that if people have been sensible enough to save their entire working lives and put this money is right, it will be sensible when they take that money out. we should not force them to make a choice that may not be right for them. the second pension bill is about offering more alternatives in terms of how you invest in the private pensions market. it refers to these collective pension schemes. that is being used in other countries like the netherlands

and it is an alternative to the current offerings that we have. people are allowed to pool their investments together to take the economies of scale that will come from that i have introduced cost. we think that this will eventually lead to higher pensions falls it is about finding more choice. >> what about the next election? >> that is the intention. i want to pick up on one point. there are 16 bills in total. that is in the speech. it does not include three draft bills. by the same measure, that is three more than there were in the queen's speech. we have heard a number of labor spokesman saying that in terms of quantity, this government will run out of steam. that is completely incorrect. what matters most is the holiday, not the quantity. what we are seeing here is what has been said. the queen has said it herself. we have had a lot of changes in this country.

that is what matters. with labor, they might have had more bills overall, but let us not forget the deepest recession and the biggest deficit in the largest banking bailout. >> do you have any problem with the pension proposal? >> with the pension proposals are about is about flexibility and freedom. they have been driven by steve webb, a liberal democrat minister, who is widely recognized and knows the most about pensions. one other area i would like to fight in terms of the bill is what we have been for those thing in terms of relationship infrastructure. the support we are giving to small businesses. the fantastic record that we have in creation of the ointment, new jobs that have come in the private sector, that is overwhelmingly driven by

small business. we will want to continue what we are doing in terms of deregulation. when we talk about the bills and this is a carryover bill. a deregulation bill. it is about cutting cost of business. >> the other theme, and i will mention tensions in a second, the other theme, i want to ask you this. on europe, let's remind ourselves of what the queen had to say. >> my government will work to promote reform in the european union. putting a stronger role for member states. >> a stronger role for member states. what does that mean? >> it is really important that we say -- we should argue about this. there should be a stronger role for national parliament. that is supposed to be in the treaty. part of the problem is that it is a cultural issue. it is not party policy.

i give a stronger role to national parliament by abolishing the director presented its going back to the system we had before. it was presently satisfactory. the european parliament has representatives. we introduce all sorts of changes to increase turnout. turnout across europe has been going down. we need to put that on the table and think about it. it is not a party policy. as we saw in the local elections there is a profound sense of alienation with the european union. i am far from convinced you get that back by having a referendum. we certainly have to see it brought back. could i see a few things? my recollection is that these each -- the speech -- >> we are going back in because the duke and the queen are

preparing to leave the palace. they are followed by the ladies of waiting. they are knowledge in the heads of the armed forces were lined up on the right. they are sharing a little joke there. the lord chancellor and the lord speaker. checking the purse now. it is a bit late now. [laughter] >> i think the duke is explaining on one occasion that the speech was not put back from -- properly. the lord chancellor was not able to close the bag. it is very heavy and you have to be careful about it. here is your sense of this part of it being very relaxed. >> the queen is such a remarkable woman at the age of 88.

she can still carry on these kinds of public duties. she has been relieved at this point. the heavy crown and train is gone. the formal duty is over. it is a moment at which she can be quite relaxed. the tension is maybe a little bit over. >> they are very patiently standing at attention. now they are inviting the guard of honor with the queen's departure. the harold is taking its place at the foot. it is in the vicinity there of the sovereign's entrance. those who greeted the queen will be there to say farewell. you mentioned the lord

chamberlain and the chancellor. we have a chance to talk about the dowry. they have responsibility that westminster hall of the -- most of the palace is not under road jurisdiction. they are in charge of those relatives of the palace. >> this is the brand-new coach. [fanfare] >> you can see the interior. there are lots of little inlaid pieces of wood. highly polished.

it is like windsor castle. like the cathedral. there are little baubles. they represent 1000 years of reddish and commonwealth tradition. it is a real work of art to put it mildly. it signals that the cleanest leaving the palace. the world standard is being lowered. the union jack is back in place. >> the queen is leaving.

>> the coach is leaving. once again, you have a splendid view of the queen's departure. we have the roof of the coach in view. it is a rather dull day. a little wet. everything is listening and gleaming. -- glistening and gleaming. the guards are providing the third and fourth divisions. ♪

>> the national anthem played by the band. the prince of wales and the duchess of cornwall. they are taking part in the event. they have a busy day on thursday. they will be taking part in a big event. there is a big international event in the afternoon. there are lots of heads of government from around the world. it is a poignant event. that is on friday.

we are expecting the duke of cambridge to be presiding at that time. this is the irish stagecoach. it is the lord mayor of dublin's coach. it is 700 pounds, which seems quite reasonable these days. [laughter] for 700 pounds, it was bought. we go back into the palace. we are back in two the small gallery. we see the reverse process taking place. it was renamed in 1937. and then again in 1953.

this is on display. along with the crown jewels at the tower of london. it is being taken down. ♪ this is the final part of the ceremonial if you like. once the crown has left, the formal part occurs. the first stage.

now we have the lord chamberlain's office. as i explained earlier, he is in charge of these events. it is his responsibility to bring it to the palace. first, these sort of state. -- sword of state. to be followed by maintenance. you can see on the right. safely inside. the crown jeweler will stand by to make sure that with the

master there, everything is safely in place inside the coach. they will be traveling with the coaches there. that is the principal ceremonial function today. [inaudible] it is rather calm outside. we had major processions.

what do the recent elections tell us about the state of public opinion on europe? are we likely to see that translate into real policy? there is a hint of something there. >> what it tells us is that there is a level of discontent. it is the sentiment of voters in all parties. principally, following the crisis in the euro zone. in many countries in europe, you have parties which are explicitly anti-eu. it is about the repatriation of powers. in this country, there was a

broad consensus about what needs to be done. we have to make sure we build up allies. for example, there was a question over who should be president at the commission. there are all sorts of reservations. regulations. you have to build alliances. >> i would like to see it in the queen's speech. we do not have coalition agreement. we are trying to get that referendum commitment through. it would be great if that were in the speech. it is something is a party that we are committed to. what does election show us is that there is significant discontent with the relationship with europe. there is a general feeling that too many powers have been

ruffled. they need to come back. i respectfully disagree. i do not think there is broad consensus on this. the liberal democrats and the labour party are happy with the status low. you cannot get a renegotiation if that is what you truly believe without having a referendum issue. >> i'm shaking my head because we are in favor of reform. it is a written role of parliament. that has got to be changed. we have already legislated as a coalition government for there to be a referendum if there were any significant transfer of powers. what the argument is about is how can we achieve reform and what is the most effective way of doing that? is it by sniping from the sidelines or getting stuck in

and trying to build allies in trying to achieve reform? >> we will pause for a second. >> this is part of the commons. if the 1363. it has been held by sir robert rogers. he joins me now to tell me what it is like to take part in the >> it is a fantastic experience. it is a terrific contrast. there is this fantastic ceremonial this morning. this afternoon, the house resumed. i have to read out the title of this. it underlines the fact that this is the right of the comments to proceed regardless of what they may need to do. the adversarial politics

is a great contrast. >> there are many people who work here. you are in charge of 2000 people? >> yes. a fantastic range of skills and experiences. we provide all of the services that the house needs to conduct a business. it is everything. i have experts in woodwork. it is about maintaining this incredible building in which we operate. we have economic research and experts on committees who provide help with security. it is a remarkable group of people. i am very proud to have led them. >> you are retiring this year. >> yes. >> what is your favorite memory? >> i have so many favorite memories.

a boat in 1999. great speeches. moments when the vote on syria. that was a few months ago. the house of commons became much more important. >> i am told that you are the legal owner of big ben will stop -- big ben. >> i think he has a larger claim to fame. he can speak a bit of medieval welsh. [laughter] >> a quick sentence more. we are reaching the end of coverage. what will they be concentrating on in the lead up to the election? >> for the liberal democrats, it will be about building a stronger economy. that is what we saw in the

queen's's age. we saw an emphasis on jobs. matters pertaining to apprenticeships. we are investing in child care. what we have already achieved. >> these are coalition priorities. we need to continue with his long-term plan. this is a continuation of what you've heard today. we need to keep building a stronger economy. there is a lot of work to be done. >> your thoughts? >> i agree about a strong economy. what i thought was interesting about the queen's speech is how it flattered certain groups. how you provide greater security work. that will be big engagements. along with housing. there is good rhetoric. >> there's no piece of legislation that will dominate the election. ev